Food dispenser



Nov. 5, 1929. F. HOKE ET AL FOOD DISPENSER Filed Aug. 18, 1.927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TORS Frank Hoke, Gear q flfl sseba and Edward E. a)!

ATTORN EYS Nov. 5, 1929.

F. HOKE ET AL 1,734,466

FOOD DISPENSER I Filed Aug. 18, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 55 6-8 v j l 6,2 6'4 0| 4a gg J5 62 f? "6-5 66 w 10 J 6'6 43 26 E=El 4? m 1a J6 J3 34 1} i/ fi 317' 18 7 a ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 5, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK EOKI, GEORGE E. BOSSEB O, AND EDWARD E. OOLLISON, OI INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ABSIGNOBS 'IO HOLCOMB & HOKE MFG. COMPANY, OF INDIANAPOLIS,

INDIANA, A CORPORATION 01' INDIANA I'OOD DISPENSER Application filed. August 18, 1927. Serial No. 213,748.

Our invention relates to improvements in food dispensing cabinets and has for one of its objects to Provide a cabinet and counter having storage compartments readily accessible to the dispenser and providlng a counter on which the dispenser may work, said counter having arranged in convenient reach and readily accessible, food containers, the structure being so arranged that while the food may be readily dispensed therefrom unwarranted handling of the food by purchasers is prevented.

For the purpose of disclosing our invention we have illustrated one embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a cabinet embodymg our invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation;

Fig. 1 is a plan partially broken away;

Fig. 5 is a detail section of the upper structure of the cabinet;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the counter plate;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged front elevation partly in section of the lower structure;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section showing particularly the refrigerator compartment;

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective of one of the drawers;

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective of a heater container;

Fig. 11 is a perspective of one of the hot plates, and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the frame work of the structure.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated we provide a base frame work having the four corner posts 1 which are preferably formed of angle irons and which, at their lower ends are reinforcedby angle inserts 2 having portions 3 bent horizontally to form feet.

Extending between the two front posts, or legs, are top and bottom rails 4 and 5, the top rail being formed of angle iron with its horizontal flange at the top and extending outwardly and the bottom rail 5 being formed of angle iron with its horizontal flange turned inwardly. The back, top and bottom rails 6 and 7 are similar in construction and arrangement to the front rails. Side, top and bottom rails 8 and 9 are secured to the two side legs at one end and these legs are likewlse formed of angles with the horizontal flanges thereof extending inwardly. The opposite end of the frame work is provided with similar rails 10 and 11.

Filler angles 12 and 13 are secured to the front and rear top and bottom rails adjacent one end, these angles abutting the legs 1 and thereby providing flat side pieces 14 to which horizontal angles 15 and 16 may be secured by spot welding or a similar means. Intermediate of the front and rear legs are mounted intermediate posts 17 and 18 which are also formed of angles and bolted or spot welded to the top and bottom frame members. Secured to the front intermediate post 18 is an angle plate 19 which has an inturned flange 20 to which one end of rails 21 and 22 is secured, the opposite end being secured to the front horizontal rails 23 and 2 extending between the filler angle 14 and the intermediate post .17. Corresponding rear rails or braces 25 and 26 are secured in position, at one end, to one of the front corner posts 1 and at the opposite end, being turned in and securedto the flange 20. These rails are all formed of angle pieces and the rails 21 and 22 and 16 and 15 form slide rails for drawers 27 and 28. Bottom angles 29, 30, 31 and 32 are secured to the bottom, front and rear rails 5 and 7, which angles form slides for drawers 33 and 34, a dividing post 35 being connected between the rail 7 and the rail 26 to provide a compartment for the drawer 34.

It will be noted that one of the corner posts 1, the intermediate post 18 and the top and bottom rear rails 6 and 7 form a frame work for a compartment and within this frame work is fitted. a wooden frame 35 to I ment and a bottom plate 40 having a downturncd lip 41 secured to the bottom of the wooden frame 35 and an up-turned lip 43 overlapping the rear Wall 36 forms the bottom of the compartment. This compartment is designed for refrigerating purposes and to this end the sides, top and bottom are covered with insulating material which may be cork or any other suitable material. A refrigerant container 43 is arranged within this refrigeratino compartment and is preferably supported rom a supporting frame comprising top and bottom strips, the vertical leg 44 of which is secured to the top plate and the horizontal leg 45 of which is secured to one of the side walls 37. Extending between these strips from front to rear are angle guide rails 46 on which the container is mounted. Angle strips such as 47 and 48 are secured respectively to the vertical legs 44 and the opposite side wall of the compartment to form supporting rails by shelves 49. The compartment is closed by means of a suitably insulated door 50 hinged to the frame 35.

The frame work thus far describedis covered by suitable sheet metal panels on the front and sides such as 51, which are located or otherwise secured to the legs and at each corner there are provided decorative angle trims 52. Panel plates 53 are also secured in position, which panel plates provide suit able openings for the drawers and door heretofore described. I

Extending between the top rails 4 and 6 near one end is a transverse top rail 54 which may be. formed of angle iron, and a longitudinal angle top rail 55 is secured between the top end rail 8 and the rail 54. A third rail 56 extends from the rear top rail 6 to the rail 55. This provides a bracing and supporting arrangement for the top and takes care of the weight of the dilferent apparatus placed in position on the top. The counter 57 is preferably formed of a single sheet of metal having down turned edge flanges 58 which over-hang the top rails and this sheet is perforated as at 59 and 60 to receive pans 61 and 62, the body of the pan fitting down within the opening and the pans having overhanging flanges resting on the counter. third perforation 63 is formed in the counter to receive a hot plate 64. Arranged beneath this hot plate opening is a shield 65 which is preferably box-like in construction having perforations 66 inits side walls and lined with asbestos. This box-like shield is adapted to surround the heating element for the plate, which may be a gas burner, or which may be an electrically operated heating element. An opening 67 is formed toward the front of the counter to accommodate a support 68 which carries suitable container jars 69, and beneath this opening a shield similar to the shield 65 is arrangedin which either a gas or electric heating element is mounted. An opening 7 O likewise having beneath it a shield like the shield 65 containing a heating element is formed in the counter and mounted over this opening is a food warmer or cooker 71. Suitable openings, such as 72 and 73 are also formed in the counter to accommodate condiment containers and containers for melted butter or the like. It will be noted that the opening 73 which is adapted to accommodate the container for melted butter lies between the openings 63 and 67 and is therefore adjacent the heating elements for these openings so that the heat from these elements will maintain the material placed in this holder warmed.

An elongated opening 74 is formed in the counter which accomodates a bread or cutting board 75, and it will be noted that this opening is longer than the cutting board so as to leave an opening in the counter adjacent the cutting board. An inclined chute 76 extends from this opening to a vertical chute 77 which terminates just above the drawer 34 and this portion of the opening is surrounded by a protective flange 78. A. pair of side protecting plates 79 extend upwardly at each end of the counter, which plates at their lower edges are provided with inturned bottom flanges 80 by which they may be bolted to the counter, and in-turned upper flanges 81 adapted to receive trim strips 82. lhe forward edges of these plates abut against the inner edges of corner members preferably formed of sheet metal bent at right angles to provide the front plate 83 and a side plate 84. This angle member forming the front and side plates 83 and 84 is provided with similar in-turned flanges 85 at its edges to receive trims 86 and bottom inturned flanges 87 by which the structure may be bolted to the counter. At the junction between the plate 84 and the side plate 79 a bracing plate 88 is secured. Extending between the corner structures is a storage compartment preferably formed of the top plate 89 having a down turned flange 90. This flange at its ends provides means for securing the plate to the plates 83 and 84 and in co-operation with a channel 91 at one edge A; provides a guide for sliding doors 92, and its other edge in co-operation with an angle 93 forms a channel for the reception of a protective glass 94 which at its bottom rests upon the counter. A bottom plate 95 co-operates with the top plate 89 and this bottom plate is likewise provided on its inner face with a channel 96 co-operating with channel 91 to form the guideway for the doors 92 and with a down-turned lip 97 by which the plate may be secured in position in a manner similar to that of the plate 89. We claim as our invention:

1. In a feed dispensing cabinet, a. frame comprising corner posts, top and bottom bracing rails extending between said corner posts on four sides, intermediate bracing rails extending from front to rear and providing drawer slides, an insulated refrigerating compartment formed to one side of said drawer slides, panels secured to said corner rails for enclosing the frame, a top plate mounted on said frame and adapted to receive a plurality of food containers said top plate having an opening therein and a chute extending from said opening and terminating in the interior of said frame.

2. A food dispensing cabinet comprising a frame formed of corner posts, top and bottom bracing rails extending between said corner posts to form a rectangular frame, intermediate osts extending between the top and bottom ront and back rails, front and back intermediate rails secured to said posts and to the corner posts, side rails extending from said intermediate rails from front to back and forming drawer slides, sliding drawers opening rearwardly supported on said slides one above the other, a sheet metal compartment disposed in said'frame at one side of said drawers and having a rearwardly opening door, a counter cover for said frame having a plurality of openings for receiving and supporting a plurality of food containers and a dispensing counter supported above and towards the front end of said first mentioned counter.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 10th day of August, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and twenty seven.

FRANK HOKE. GEORGE H. ROSSEBO. EDWARD E. COLLISON. 

